Chapter 31

Ten days after the rumor of Prince Celistis' critical condition spread, a woman visited the gate of the Antore Knights' Order and asked Ebeck to announce her arrival.

The visitor was Via.

She had traveled for three days and three nights by carriage from the southernmost city of the Securt Federation, finally reaching her destination.

Under normal circumstances, it would have taken a few days to travel by foot and public carriage.

However, Via had hired a private carriage, efficiently changing horses at each town, and rushed to Midas without sparing any expense.

By the evening of the first day, she was already suffering from severe motion sickness, and could hardly sleep in the jolting carriage. From the second day onward, she began to vomit food and could only manage to eat a little water and porridge, continuing her journey.

She had already parted with her emblem to raise funds, and was worried whether Ebeck would announce her in such a state, but she bet on the fact that Ebeck might have anticipated her arrival and taken some measures.

Via's bet paid off, and she was immediately ushered inside.

Exhausted to the point of being unable to stand, she collapsed into the chair that had been prepared for her.

Even sitting was painful, but her only thought was to see Celistis as soon as possible.

Soon, a knock echoed, and Amon appeared.

"Why are you here, Amon?"

Via murmured, then realized that Ebeck must have informed him.

"How is Celistis?"

She tried to stand but felt dizzy and collapsed to her knees.

Just before she hit the floor, Amon rushed over and caught her.

"Your Highness!"

Amon's face tensed at Via's pale complexion.

"I'm fine. I'm just tired."

Via managed a weak smile. More than anything, she was worried about Celistis.

"Amon, please. Let me see Celistis quickly."

Amon almost blurted out the truth, but remembered Gruek's words that this was the only chance to bring the princess back, and held back.

"Let's go to the Purple Jade Palace immediately.

However, in your current state, you cannot walk through the palace. Would you allow me to help you change clothes?"

Via nodded, and Amon carried her to the Antore family's residential building.

He had the Antore family's maids assist the princess with her bath and change of clothes, and sent a messenger to the Purple Jade Palace to prepare a palanquin for a distinguished guest.

In her current state, the princess did not have the strength to walk through the palace. It would be better to carry her in a palanquin with a canopy, supported by attendants, to Celistis' chambers.

Before heading to the Purple Jade Palace, Amon tried to get Via to eat something nutritious, but even fruit and soup were rejected.

It was clear that the bath had further weakened her.

When Amon suggested she rest, Via refused, insisting she wanted to see Celistis as soon as possible. Amon carefully carried her to the carriage, and they slowly made their way to the Purple Jade Palace in a six-horse carriage with minimal jolting.

The Purple Jade Palace was eerily quiet.

Under normal circumstances, Via would have noticed something was amiss, but being carried in a palanquin to Celistis' chambers left her no time to notice the unnatural silence.

With Amon's help, she got down and was led to the antechamber, where only Gruek was waiting, guiding her to the door.

"How is Celistis?"

Gruek did not answer but opened the door to the chambers and said, "This way."

The room was dim. Before Via's eyes could adjust to the darkness, the door behind her closed.

As she slowly approached the bed, the canopy curtains were half-open, and her younger brother, who had been sitting at the foot of the bed, stood up.

"Celistis?"

The brother she hadn't seen in a long time had grown taller and more mature.

Despite the news of his critical condition, his steps were unusually light as he approached.

"Celistis."

She called his name again, and Celistis smiled fondly.

"Big sister, I'm sorry."

Celistis, who was now a head taller than Via, gave her a light embrace and whispered in her ear.

"I deceived you for my brother's sake."

Before Via could ask what he meant, Celistis passed by her and left the room, closing the door behind him.

Confused, Via looked around and suddenly noticed another young man hiding behind the canopy curtains.

Even in the dim room, his bright golden hair was unmistakable.

His hair fell loosely over his forehead and was tied back at the nape of his neck.

Via remembered how soft his hair felt.

His long, amber eyes, straight nose, and now tightly pressed, well-shaped lips were just as she remembered.

She couldn't take her eyes off his strong, handsome figure.

This was the man she had longed to see for two years, who appeared in her dreams and never left her heart.

"Via."

Called by his deep voice, Via felt tears welling up.

Alek's position and her own didn't matter anymore. She had longed to see him and had cried many times into her pillow.

"Your Majesty...!"

She called out to Alek with all her feelings.

She couldn't hide her true feelings anymore. Via's feet moved on their own.

Alek, who had been standing there, tightly embraced the frail body that had rushed to him.

Burying his face in her soft hair, Alek didn't let go of her for a long time.

"How did it go?"

Celistis, who had come out of the chambers, saw his brother's aides gathered in the antechamber with worried expressions and couldn't help but laugh.

"I left them alone. I don't know what happened after that."

He could only hope his brother would handle it well.

"By the way, you came in a palanquin?

Is your sister in such bad condition?"

"Her condition is quite poor. I didn't get the details, but she traveled for three days and three nights by carriage from Sinya."

"From Sinya?"

Gruek frowned, thinking it was too much for even a strong man to endure such a journey.

"From Sinya in three days and three nights? Did she use a hired carriage? I wonder where she got the money for that."

Celistis, who seemed a bit naive, worried about something irrelevant.

"I forgot to mention, but when Ebeck met the princess a few days ago, he gave her his emblem. She probably sold it."

"Her emblem?"

Celistis was surprised.

"Both giving and selling it are quite bold. It's just like her."

Luitas nodded in agreement.

"Next time, we should ask where she sold it. We might be able to buy it back."

"More importantly, I'm worried about the princess's condition."

Amon, who was more practical, interjected.

"She was so weak that she could hardly walk and couldn't even eat due to exhaustion. She insisted on seeing the prince, so I brought her here."

"Prince Celistis is truly loved."

Luitas smiled, but Celistis felt a sense of guilt, thinking he had caused her so much trouble.

He asked Gruek, a bit worried.

"Is the court physician on standby?"

"Yes. I have the maids and the physician waiting in another room."

Just as he said this, a loud voice echoed from the chambers.

"Hey, is anyone there!"

Startled by the emperor's frantic voice, the four rushed to the chambers.

"Via has fainted. Call the physician."

Via had lost consciousness in the middle of their embrace and was about to collapse to the floor. Amon quickly caught her, but she remained unconscious.

Alek, who was completely flustered, was calmed by Gruek.

"Luitas, call the physician immediately.

Prince Celistis, we'll use your bed. Your Majesty, bring the princess here."

Pulling back the covers, they laid Via on the large bed.

The physician and maids quickly surrounded the princess, and amidst the commotion, the emperor, the prince, and the emperor's aides were unceremoniously ushered out of the room.

In the other room, the five gathered and sighed in unison.

"Your Majesty, Princess Via is probably suffering from extreme fatigue. She pushed herself to the point of collapsing to see you, and if she finds out it was all a farce—"

Gruek looked at the emperor and the prince with a sympathetic gaze.

"I think she will be extremely angry."

The room fell silent.

Alek looked at Gruek anxiously.

"Wasn't this your plan? Is there anything we can do?"

"What can we do, you ask?"

Gruek tilted his head, as if it were someone else's problem.

"No, I didn't expect the princess to push herself this far.

She must have really cared about Prince Celistis."

Celistis held his head in his hands.

"If she finds out I deceived her, she probably won't speak to me for a while.

Big sister gets really scary when she's angry."

Alek looked at Luitas, who seemed utterly helpless.

Even if he pleaded with such a desperate look, there was nothing Luitas could do. He shrugged his shoulders.

"There's nothing we can do. In this situation, both of you should let the princess vent her anger until she feels better."